trulytangledgrl

I am just needing to vent right now, and to possibly get some support and advice from all of you veteran bandsters. My girlfriend is very skeptical of this whole banding thing, and especially since I am going to TJ to get it done. When I mentioned to her that I wanted to do it, she didn't say much, then like 5 days later when I told her my final decision, she was like 'well, I support whatever you want to do, but I don't agree with it. I think you can lose weight by dieting and exercising alone, I don't think you need something this extreme - and I don't think TJ is the BEST place to go. Its dirty there, and I have researched this extensively.' Just going on and on about how horrible TJ is and how do you know this isn't a scam, and what if something happens when you get back - who is responsible? You will have to pay for all the hospital/Dr. fees once you are back here... and I explained to her that if something happens once I return, if it was not my fault and if it was the fault of something they did, then they fix it without any charge to me. I also explained to her about this forum, and that NO ONE has had a bad experience - well, I think I have read maybe one or two stories like the girl who they left at the airport or something lol. Anyhow, I explained that I have read nothing but EXCELLENT stories, and that everyone was so pleased with Dr. O and his staff, and that everyone on here said that TJ is really nice.

I also brought up to her the fact that just because its Mexico, doesn't make it any different from having surgery in the USA. I told her that in fact, the USA is NUMBER 37 (right above lithuania) for healthcare... and also brought up the point that if you are travelling to another country, and you need to go to a hospital, they will treat you FOR FREE. Without asking for a dime... they don't care what insurance you have cause they are not money hoarders like some americans (like all health insurance co's and hospitals). I had a lot of good counter arguments and she was just like 'I'm done talking about this' ... I am sick of her talking to me like I am stupid - like I haven't researched this. HELP! What to do what to do?

Thanks everyone!

WOW!! This is EXCELLENT information. I had NO IDEA you could write off medical expenses. I, too, am new to the tax world... just started this year doing my own. I have a ton of medical expenses... probably over 100$ of perscriptions per month, see an endocrinologist, a gastroenterologist, a psychiatrist, a therapist, you name it. I can't believe I didn't know this until now - well, will have to start saving ALL of my receipts. I assume that medical expenses can include perscriptions also? And cost of Dr. visits? At least I know now so I can write off all my surgery stuff! yippee! Plus I will start saving all my receipts from now on. Still have 6 months of this yr. left! Will have a hefty amount to write off. I wonder if we can write off like all of the food we need to buy for the pre and post op diets (i.e. protein shakes)? That might be pushing it, but just wondering.

Oh for sure - a ONCE IN A LIFETIME vacation is definitely the truth! Honestly, I will FEEL like that is my new 'birthday' - you know? The start of a new life for me. =D> WOOHOOO! I am so impatient - my surgery was originally scheduled for AUGUST 29, but I decided to move it up a month. Not only cause I REEALLYY want it (like now! lol), but also when I scheduled originally, I didn't take into account that I would be going back to school like... uh, yeah... August 29, 30, something like that, or very beginning of Sept. So, that didn't leave me much time to recover. Not smart. Plus being in graduate school, second year, and doing clinical field placement 3 days a week AND working full time, I do NOT need to be returning and not be fully recovered. That would be disastrous.

I was originally worried about the cost of fills. I was on the lapbandtalk forum and found a board for PA bandsters, and there was a lot of talk about a Dr. Ren in NYC - she only charges $100 a fill is what they say, and apparently she is one of the best. She had rave reviews from all of the clients who posted on the PA board. So, I will be setting aside like $1000 for fills only... so I have enough for the fill, transportation, etc. Luckily I live so close to NYC I can hop on the NJ transit system and pay $20 round trip!

Gosh I am excited. This is becoming so real. To think that about 2 months ago, after having spent nearly $3000 on NutriSystem, and having lost only 20 lbs (and trust me not to say that I would still WANT those 20 lbs), then getting stalled and being able to go nowhere for the last month I did it.... I just wish I had found out about Dr. Ortiz sooner - I mean heck, I could of paid for nearly half of my surgery with that $3000 I spent on NS food. Ah, well. I guess I shouldn't look at it that way, but gosh. After my weight loss with NS stalled, I was almost ready to give up and just throw in the towel. I gained back about 5 lbs cause I became depressed... and finding out about Dr. Ortiz was such a motivation and inspiration to me - for once I feel like there is hope. I feel like maybe just maybe I will have my chance to be thin(ner)... lol! I am so excited

I used to order the PB2 (powdered PB) from Bell Plantation when I was doing nutrisystem - ITS SOOO YUMMY. I love it! I used to put that on a slice of lite bread with a very small amount of preserves. So good. =D>

> Truly,

You will be so surprised how fast the time will go. Even if you don't get your passport in time, just have your drivers license and birth certificate with you. That will be enough until like june of 09 for those driving or walking across the border. It would be different if you were cruising or flying in.

banded 4/7

Oh, really? I didn't know that you could just have license and birth certificate - thought that as of this June we needed passports. Well, that is a good thing then - I mean just in case my passport doesn't get here in time. I think it will, cause someone told me it takes about 3 months to process all the paper work and then receive the actual passport. Well, its good to know that if by chance I don't get it, I won't have to worry.

Thanks everyone for sharing in my excitement! > I just wish that I could get it done sooner lol. I am so excited.

Well, I just booked my flight to San Diego! I am excited because it makes it feel more like... its really going to happen. I mean, I know I have my surgery date scheduled, but booking the flight makes it even more exciting. Also, I went to the post office and got information and paperwork for my passport. I have to go to rite aid or somewhere to get my photos cause I refuse to get them at the post office and pay $15 for two teeny weeny photos - outrageous. Thats robbery So, I really hope that the time between now and July 31 goes by FAST! I am getting antsie and really want this so bad. lol I am like a little kid who is going to Disney World or something!

Wow, I have been reading all the posts about fills/unfills. I read a post form one woman saying she was paying $500 some for a fill! Holy COW! I am just wondering if this is average for a fill? If so it seems to me that not only do you spend the $8000 for the surgery but then possibly a few thousand $$$ on fills/unfills before you have your band adjusted properly. I am now having doubts because I am barely able to scrounge up the $8000 for surgery and probably $600 for flights, but then I have to worry about a thousand or more $$$ for fills. Then if I don't get the fills then my band might be worthless anyhow (if I am not restricted). I don't know what to do.

Hello truely......

Your story is very much like mine!! Don't worry, you'll do fine going to Dr. Ortiz, he's great, his staff's great and the area where they're located is very nice. By the way... you're having your surgery on my birthday!!! =D>

If you have any questions, just ask, this forum is terrific! Best wishes, Darlene :-h

Hello, Darlene! Thanks for the reply. When did you have your surgery? Your birthday this year will be an exciting day for me, that is for sure! =D> woohoo! lol. I am nervous about this, but from the minute that I read about OCC and Dr. Ortiz, I KNEW in my heart that this was the answer for me. I didn't even question it. I already had financing set up because I was going to have a procedure done a while back, but ended up not getting it... so it was just meant to be. Super excited.

Hey all. I am scheduled for surgery on August 29th. I am so glad to have found this forum - for low BMI patients. As most of you here have mentioned, my Dr. always says that I need to lose weight, but I am not a candidate for WLS of any kind cause I am not FAT ENOUGH - hmmmmmm now isn't that unusual. It seems to me as though the Dr.'s here in the states are saying "well, you're too fat, but you're not fat enough for us to help you. So, when you are closer to imminent death, THEN come back and see us again. Good luck till then." Its (pardon my language) f**ked up if you ask me. It just is.

Anyhow, I am (was) in the same boat. At 5'5", and about 190 lbs, my BMI is only 32, but still I am considered obese (oh, but not obese ENOUGH to get help). I have dieted since I was like 12... I have been on any kind of pill you can mention, LA Weightloss, Nutrisystem, Slimfast, Dr. monitored diets (bullcrap), starvation/excessive exercise aka anorexia - which worked by the way but let me tell you its not a good idea cause you gain the weight back tenfold when you can't handle starving anymore. I have tried it all, and at age 25, I am sick and tired of it and I want to live a life where food does not dominate my entire waking life. I want to be out having fun, wearing clothes that are cute, I want to be energetic, feel good about myself, etc. I have some major health problems (PCOS - polysystic ovarian syndrom. This causes me to be insulin resistant - similar to diabetic. I am sure several of you women on here struggle with this as well. Also hypothyroidism is a problem for me, and runs in my family.) Heart disease runs in my family, diabetes, obesity, etc.

I am so happy that I found OCC because I was about to throw in the towel. I was honestly considering gaining enough weight to be 'fat enough' to get WLS in the states, but I couldn't bear the thought of doing it, then not being approved through the insurance company. It wasn't worth the risk. So, anyhow... sorry for my rant - I am just so happy to have found this forum, and I am so excited for my surgery.